'Children in tears' as 'police officer kicked off his vehicle' by protestors in Liverpool

Police separated groups of demonstrators outside the Cunard Building in Liverpool. Anti-fascist protesters sang: “Where’s your Tommy gone?" a reference to former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson.

At one point a group of men with masks and hoods up appeared to try and charge police officers who stood with batons.

Merseyside Police said a section 60 order giving officers greater stop-and-search powers has been introduced for Liverpool. The force said the order was put in place at 12pm on Saturday and will stay active for a 12-hour period until midnight.

The order incorporates Liverpool city centre and also includes areas of Kensington and Toxteth. Superintendent Dawn McNally said: "A number of section 60s have been introduced in Merseyside since the disgraceful disorder we witnessed in Southport on Tuesday evening.

"They give officers on the ground extra powers to stop and search anyone suspected of carrying weapons or planning any criminality as we seek to keep the public safe.

"We will continue to deploy section 60 orders wherever we believe they can help our efforts to keep people safe."

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A line of police moved in to separate groups of demonstrators who met at in Liverpool. A crowd, some with union flags, who had gathered shouting "stop the boats" were greeted by anti-fascist protesters who marched from a rally.

Chants of "Tommy Robinson" were greeted by shouts of "Nazi scum, off our streets." Some cans were thrown from one group towards the other.

The windscreen of a police van was smashed as bricks and plastic barriers were thrown. Bricks were pelted at the vans and officers by youths with their faces covered.

Riot officers then ran at the group to move them back, before backing away as more bricks were thrown.

Shadow home secretary James Cleverly has said the Prime Minister and Home Secretary need to "do more" to restore public order and "send a clear message to the thugs."

The Tory leadership contender said in a statemen: "In opposition Labour voted against public order measures we brought forward to give our police more powers to keep our streets clear, calm and safe, and Keir Starmer taking the knee sent completely the wrong message. There is never a justification for disorder like this.

“Now they are in Government Labour need to clamp down immediately on the violence that we have seen across the country and send a clear message to the thugs that they will be met with the full strength of the law. The public expects the Government to restore order.

"They should be giving regular updates alongside the police so potential rioters know that they won’t get away with this and they must haul the tech companies in to ensure they are doing everything they can to prevent the spread of disinformation fuelling these events."

It comes after similar protests took place across the country. Bricks were thrown at officers in Stoke-on-Trent, fireworks were thrown amid tense exchanges between an anti-Islamic group and an anti-racism rally in Belfast, and windows of a hotel which has been used to house migrants were smashed in Hull.

Greater Manchester Police said a dispersal notice had been authorised for the city centre and Merseyside Police said greater stop and search powers had been granted for officers to deal with planned demonstrations.

Scuffles broke out as opposing groups faced each other in Nottingham’s Market Square with bottles and other items thrown from both sides, and chants of "England until I die" and "Tommy Robinson" were drowned out by boos from the counter-protesters.

Around 150 people carrying St George’s flags shouting "you’re not English any more" and "p**** Muslims off our street" were greatly outnumbered in Leeds by hundreds of counter-protesters shouting "Nazi scum off our streets."